The best new movies in Singapore to catch

Now showing

This Thai drama has gained a spike in popularity after TikToks of movie-goers crying in the cinema started circulating across various social media platforms. It’s a tearjerker, and for good reason: the film focuses on the relationship between a teenage boy and his grandma who is living out her final days after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. While it is certain that grandma will pass on by the end of the movie, it’s the emotional connection between her and her grandson that causes us to cry – we mean, sweat from our eyes. If you’re going to watch How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, don’t forget to bring a tissue box.

Now showing

It’s been eight years since the release of the theatrical spectacle, Mad Max: Fury Road, and while many praised Tom Hardy’s version of Max Rockatansky, Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Furiosa left everyone in awe and clamouring for more. Writer and director George Miller revealed that during the writing process of Fury Road, Furiosa was given such an extensive backstory for her character that an entire script was written. Furiosa’s origins will be the main focus of the upcoming film, with Anya Taylor-Joy – most known for her edifying performance in The Queen’s Gambit – taking on the role of the electric Furiosa. The plot remains relatively ambiguous, but one thing’s for sure: you can expect impressive cinematography and thrilling action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Now showing

Nine years after Inside Out first premiered on the silver screen, its sequel explores the emotions of a prepubescent teenager – very fitting as the kids who watched the first movie are most likely to be teenagers now. Inside Out 2 introduces four new emotions: Embarrassment, Ennui, Envy, and everyone’s favourite, Anxiety. These new emotions tie in with Riley’s experiences in middle school, such as the desire to fit in and coming across as “cool” to others – experiences that surely all of us can relate to. Inside Out 2 promises to be a poignant film about the struggles of a teenager dealing with newfound emotions, serving as a reminder that negative emotions are fleeting.

Now showing

Prepare to get your heartstrings tugged on when you watch the Taiwanese-Japanese romance film 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days. Follow Jimmy as he reminisces about his encounter with Ami, a Japanese backpacker, that occurred 18 years ago. 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days was adapted from a travelogue posted on the internet by Taiwanese video game developer Jimmy Lai in 2014, and served as the main inspiration for the story Michihito Fujii and Chang Chen wanted to convey. Since its release, the film has been selected to be screened at the 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival as well as the 26th Far East Film Festival.

Now showing

It’s been 18 years since the last I Not Stupid movie, and its themes are more relevant than ever. The latest instalment to the series revolves around the pressure parents place on their children to be the top in the class. This results in round-the-clock study sessions and endless tuition classes that end up taking a toll on the children’s mental health. I Not Stupid 3 delves into Singapore’s relentless education system, and poses the question: why do the same problems persist after so many years?

Now showing

The trailer for Challengers sparked a huge discussion about Tom Holland and Zendaya’s relationship after it featured Zendaya’s character engaging in a romantic tryst with two men, with many making “Stay Strong, Tom Holland” jokes while others have gone as far as to say that the beloved Spiderman: No Way Home couple have broken up. Relationship rumours aside, Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a Grand Slam tennis champion who engages in a sexual relationship with two other tennis players who happen to be best friends. Years later, we learn that Tashi suffered from a serious injury that stopped her from pursuing tennis, and that she married Art Donaldson, one of the boys from the earlier sexual encounter. Art signs up for a challenger event that places him against his former best friend, and the repercussions of that night start to surface. The character of Tashi Duncan is more complex compared to  Zendaya’s usual roles – a perfect vehicle for her to show a new side whilst embodying the driven and mysterious Tashi onscreen.

Now showing

Ever wondered where your childhood imaginary friends disappeared to when you grew out of them? John Krasinski’s IF – short for Imaginary Friend – features a girl named Bea and her neighbour (played by Ryan Reynolds) who can see these imaginary friends, with the duo helping them to find new children to accompany. This kid-friendly fantasy has a star-studded cast, including Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Maya Rudolph, all of whom will be playing various imaginary friends in the film.

In cinemas June 28

The popular silent horror film returns to cinemas with a new instalment, this time focusing on how everyone reacted when the meteors first came crashing down onto Earth. Starring Lupita Nyong’o from Us and Black Panther as well as Joseph Quinn, who is best known for his role as Eddie on Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One will showcase the absolute chaos when the invasion first happened, with spectacular action scenes and nerve wracking moments to keep you on the edge of your seat.

In cinemas July 4

The world’s favourite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League agent Gru is back again, this time with a brand new adventure. To catch you up, Gru is now married to fellow Anti-Villain League agent Lucy, and together they live with three adopted girls, Margo, Edith, and Agnes. The newest addition to their family is Gru Jr., an infant boy. When criminal Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend, Valentina, escape from prison, Gru and his family find themselves on the run. Despicable Me 4 promises action-packed scenes to keep you on your toes, and of course, a wide array of silly antics from the lovable Minions.

In cinemas July 25

While the hype surrounding the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has died down a bit since the release of Avengers: Endgame, Deadpool & Wolverine might just be the one to bring back all the excitement once again. The trailer hints that Deadpool and the X-men may potentially be part of the MCU, showing a giant Ant Man helmet as well as Deadpool and Wolverine jumping through what seems to be one of Dr Strange’s portals. MCU tie-ins or not, Deadpool & Wolverine is easily the most anticipated movie of 2024, with its previous instalments instantly becoming box office hits, grossing over $360,000,000 in the United States and Canada, and $420,000,000 in other countries. If you’re looking to only catch a couple of films in the cinema this year, Deadpool & Wolverine should definitely be on your list.

In cinemas August 9

Film and TV adaptations of popular video games have taken the world by storm, especially since The Last of Us and Fallout gained immense popularity for their almost-perfect adaptations of the source material. Hoping to join the growing list of successful adaptations is Borderlands, a video game franchise that has been well loved by gamers since its release in 2009. Cate Blanchett takes on the titular role of Lilith, a treasure hunter with a mysterious past, and her journey to find the missing daughter of Atlas. She forms an alliance with a ragtag team of misfits, and together they will battle monsters and dangerous bandits to fulfil their goal. While the plot seems like any other superhero movie, we’re hoping that Borderlands will display the game’s signature charm and wit that sets it apart from the others. At the very least, we hope it won’t be as bad as the Assassin’s Creed movie…

In cinemas August 29

Get ready for an action-packed film with amazing stunts in Kraven The Hunter. The film follows the iconic Marvel villain and his life before his encounter with Spider-Man, providing more backstory to this beloved character before his proper introduction to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Kraven The Hunter is rated R, so you can expect pretty explicit action sequences.

In cinemas September 9

The 80s classic Beetlejuice makes its return after 35 years, with its sequel aptly named Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (hopefully they don’t make a third or Beetlejuice will actually show up). The popular trickster appears once again after Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, summons Beetlejuice by saying his name three times. Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder reprise their roles as Beetlejuice and Lydia, with Jenna Ortega from popular Netflix series Wednesday and A24’s X joining the cast as Astrid. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice promises to keep the same atmosphere as its predecessor, opting for practical effects instead of CGI for that nostalgic 80s flair.

In cinemas October 4

This year is shaping up to be the year of sequels, and we’re not complaining: it’s given us Joker: Folie à Deux. The first Joker definitely made an impact when it was released in 2019, especially with its tasteful exploration of serious themes like the psychological and sociological effects that come with having a mental illness and childhood trauma. Joker: Folie à Deux is a direct sequel, introducing the iconic Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) and how her relationship with Joker blossoms. The phrase “folie à deux” means folly of two in French, and is typically used to represent shared madness, alluding to how Joker will be passing his madness to Harley Quinn in this highly-anticipated sequel.

In cinemas November 28

Musicals are also making a comeback this year, with Mean Girls and Wonka being musical movies of their own. While the aforementioned two were musical adaptations of its original source material, Wicked started off as a Broadway musical, with its leading characters Elphaba and Glinda played by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Although the two will not be reprising their roles, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are more than ready to step into those shoes, with powerful vocals that are sure to do the classic songs Popular and Defying Gravity justice. Look forward to intricate and enchanting sets in Wicked, alongside phenomenal acting by the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey.